Inside locking latch construction



y 1947- A. F. LIICKTEIG 2,420,083

INSIDE LOCKING LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed March 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Inuemor Nberf F.Liokfeig y 6, 1947- A. F. LICKTEIG 2,420,083

INSIDE LOCKING LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed March 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented May 6, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,420,083 INSIDELOCKING LATCH CONSTRUCTION Albert F. Lickteig, Grand Rapids, Mich.,assignor to National Brass Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporationof Michigan Application March 14, 1945, Serial No. 582,606

7 Claims.

This invention relates to door latches, more particularly of the typewhich may be locked against operation from the outer side of the door,yet left in position for operation from the inner side of the door. Inthe art to which this latch is directed, such latches are generallyknown as bathroom looks. The present invention is concerned with aneconomical and simple latch structure easily installed on the door,requiring no expensive mortised holes to receive the lock housing, butonly the boring of an elongated cylindrical opening at the edge of thedoor to receive the latch, and transverse openings through the door forthe passage of the latch spindle at each end of which a door knob issecured for the manual retracting of the latch when the door is to beopened.

I have heretofore filed applications for patents on latch structures ofthe same general field of utility having Serial Nos. 549,644, and564,211, filed August 16, 1944, and November 20, 1944, respectively. Thepresent invention is directed to improvements in the structure thereofto provide a more sturdy and durable latch structure, one which issimpler in structure and one which is more effective in its operationwith an attainment of all of the beneficial results which are recited insaid previously filed applications.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanynig drawings, inwhich,

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through the latch structure with theinterior latch mechanism in the position in which it may be operatedfrom either side of a. door on which installed.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the latch construction when it has beenlocked against operation from the outer side of the door, but may stillbe readily retracted from the inner side thereof.

Fig. 3 is a similar section illustrative of the automatic unlocking ofthe latch bolt Which occurs when the outer projecting head of the boltis pushed inward into the latch housing, as for example, should the doorbe closed with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through the latch mechanism,with the parts in the same position as shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical transverse sections, Fig. 5 being takensubstantially at the plane of the manually operated push bar used tolock the latch from operation at the outer side of the door, and Fig. 6at a position outwardly thereof, and

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary horizontal section at the rear end portion ofth latch structure, said longi- 2 tudinal section being offset from theplane of the section shown in Fig. 1 for a better disclosure of certainparts of the structure.

Like references refer to like parts in the different figures of thedrawings.

The housing of the latch includes two members pressed from sheet metal,each having an intermediate portion I of a semi-cylindrical form andeach being pressed inwardly to form vertical ledges 2 at the inner endsof said sections 1, and continued in channel shaped fOrm therewithin asindicated at 3, the outer side of one of said channel sections 3 havinga horizontally disposed channel rib 4 (Fig. 5) pressed therefrom. At theinner ends of the channel sections 3 rollback housings are pressedoutwardly as shown, from which short terminal channel sections 6 extendhaving inturned ends I, which preferably may have interlockingconnection as shown in the first of said applications previouslyidentified.

The semi-cylindrical intermediate sections I of the housing arecontinued at their outer ends in integral semi-cylindrical sections 8 ofa smaller diameter, there being annular shoulders 9 between the sectionsl and 8. The two housing sections are placed together with their edgesin contact, and the cylindrical outer end portion made by the twosections 8 is covered by the walls H! of a cup made of sheet metal whichhas a bottom I l with an opening therein for the passage of the outerhead of a latch bolt. The metal at said opening is turned inward, as atI2, for forming a guide for one side of the bolt head. A relativelyheavy plate 13 of metal is permanently secured to the bottom II, itlikewise having an opening for the passage of the bolt head, and themetal is turned inwardly, spaced from and parallel to the part l2 andconstituting a guide IQ for the opposite side of the bolt head. Suchstructure of the housing is substantially shown in the first filed ofthe above identified applications being modified by the formation of thechannel shaped rib 4 between one of the vertical ledges 2 and therollback housing 5 on one of the halves of the hous- Within the housinga cup l5 of sheet metal has an annular flange I6 at its open end adaptedto bear against the shoulders at 9. The bottom of said cup is providedwith an opening ll therethrough at one side of the center. A heavycoiled compression spring l8 bears at one end against the flange [6, theouter end portion of the spring passing over the cup as shown. The innerend of the spring bears against a plate I9 located applied to rock thelever 22 from the end. with the through an opening in the escutcheonplate asso- {ciated with the door-knob (not shown) at the within thehousing and normally lying against the inner sides of the ledges 2described.

Said plate l9 has diametrically opposite ears 2!) one of which passesthrough an opening of approximately the same cross sectional size as theear made in one of the sections I of the housing, the other earpassingthrough an opening 2| ;in the opposite housing section I whichopening 2| is elongated as shown (Figs, 1 and 2), permitting a limitedtilting movement of the first described ear as a pivot.

Said plate l9 has an opening-therethrough to the same side of the centeras theopening ll is made through the bottom of the cup, [5, andan earstruck from the plate at such opening Jon which a lever 22 ispivotallymounted between its ends .to rock about a pivotpin 23whichpasses through said ear and lever. One arm. 24 of (the leverextends outwardly from said pivot toward andinto the opening 11inthebottorn of'c up I 5, ,and at itsfree end the inner edge'o'f the armis formed at an inclineorvangle asshown at 25. .The extreme free endportion of thefarm 24 enters'the opening I! whichopening isa slot, and

the arm is held and guided in itsmoveme'nts by the spaced sides ofsaidslot opening. a l The opposite arm or the lever 22 extends into thechannel sections 3 of the housing and is plate above the formed with aprOjection ZB'a-t one side which in I the normal unlocked condition ofthe latch comes against the inner side of the web of thechannelsection'3 of one side of the housing (Fig. 7). Oppositely the lever hasa projection 21- extending in the other direction which when said lever,as hereinafter described, is in a position to-lock the latch againstoperation from the outer side ofthe door, comes against the webof thechannel rib 4. fSaid projection is also provided atits inner; endportion with a seat 28 which in the unlocked position of the latchmechanism receives a curved side of the pin 29 mounted upon and-extending through the spaced flanges of the chann'elrib ":Iheforce of'the'spring [8 normally'tends to. hold the plate 19in its "position againstthe ledge-2 but when the'lever 22 is moved from the .position in Fig. .1tothat in'Fig. 2 the spring J8 fm'ay yield sufficiently 'to permit plate[9 to'rock, thereby disengaging the pin receiving seat ans 7 from thepin 29' and bringing the' free edge of the projection 27 againstthebottom-of the channel rib 4 with the pin 29back of the projection 21.the lever 22' is yielding retained in either extreme position to whichit may be moved and will hold either of 'suchpositions against aimless.

or accidental movement until a suflic ient force 'is position it may be,in to the other position. The inner arm of the lever 22 terminates in 'afrearwardly extending finger 30 which in unlocked position is "disposedcentrally of thelatch housing (Figs. 1

and 7). 'A pin 3| is mounted upon and extends laterally to one side ofthe inner arm of lever 22 being located between projections 26 and 2'!(Fig.7).

An actuating bar 32 of in said movements. ;A.push bar 33 is screwconnected at it inner ear of the bar 32 and extends inner side of thedoor.

flat metal with alaterally turned ear at one end (Fig. 5) passes throughthe channel sections 3 of the housing and base longitudinal movement,being guidedby the passage openings for the bar in said channel sectionsThe bar 32 at one side has a notch 34 cut therein one side of which isparallel to the length of the housing and the other inclined as shown,the pin 3| being received in the notch and bearing against the inclinedside thereof, so that when the bar 32 is moved in the direction of its-length from the position in Fig. l to that in Fig. 2, lever 22 isrocked about .the axis .of .pivot pin 23 from the position of Fig. l andFig. 7 to its locking position shown in Fig. 2.

The retracting. latch spindle consists of two bars 35 and 36, square incross section, which pass through'openings in the ends of the rollbackhousingportions 5 and are suitably joined at their meeting ends againstseparation but Witha permission of independent rotation of"each'abouttheir common longitudinal axis, specific. detail of suchconnection not illustrated herein being fully shown and described in theearlier of my prior applications. In each-of the roll-backhousings aroll-back'31 ofheavy-sheet metal is mounted forv rocking movement, eachhaving an are shaped flange 38 extending from its inner edge intolthechannel sections 3. The flanges 38 are spaced apart with the inner endof the lockinglever finger 30, whenit is atits central position asinFig.1, disposed between them. -One of the flanges-33 at least,thoughbothgnay .be supplied with it, has a recess'39 so that when onrocking the lever '22 from its positionin Fig. l tothat in Fig. 2occurs, said-finger enters the recess 39. Itis the recess intheroll-back 31 located at the outer door side whichis thus occupied'by thefinger 30, looking the'spindle bar 35 against turning movement. It is ofcourse to be understood that the bars 35 and 33 in practice are normallysquare in cross section and always are of a nonecircular cross sectionalform and pass through openings in the;roll-backs of the same outline sothat a turning movement .of either spindle bar 35 or 36 about itslongitudinal axis will rock itsrespective connected rollback.

The latchbolt includes a normally projecting head 40 passing through theopenings in thebottom l l ofthe cap lfl an d in'the plate 13, and havingthe usual beveled portion to engage with a strike on a keeper providedon a door jambor casing to receive it. A rod 4| is connected to, theinner end of the head 40 and'extends into the housing andthrough anopeninginthe bottomof the cup being provided at its inner end with afrustro-conical, head 42 having inclined sides] at substantially thesame angle as the angular edge '25 of the arm 24. f A relatively lightcoiled compression spring 43 surrounds the rod 4! between the head andthe bottom of the cup I5, Two bars 44 are connectedpermanently at theirouter ends to the cup l5 and extend lengthwise of the housing inwardlyfrom saidcup; andpass between the flanges 38 0f the roll-backs, eachhavinga transverse pin 45 passing therethrough so that the ends of thearc shapedfianges 38 of both roll-backs engage the projecting endportions of both pins. Thus on the manual rotation of either roll-backbyengaginga door knob secured at the outer end of eitherof-saidspindlebarsfi and 36, the bars 44 are retracted with acompression of the heavy coiled spring I8, :and an inward movement ofthe cup 15 which withdraws the head 40 of the bolt from a keeper withwhich it is engaged. v n When; the bar ;32 has been moved,from itsposition i i-Fig. 1 to that in Fig.2, the roll back 3! connectedwith-the spindle 35 which; extends to the outer side of the door islocked against movement by reason of the finger 39 entering the notch39. The door thereupon cannot be opened by attempted turning of the knobat the outer side of the door. The inner side roll-back 31 is not lockedand it may be readily operated from the inner side of the door with aretraction of the bolt in the usual manner.

When the door has been locked so that it cannot be opened from its outerside, the arm 24 of lever 22 has been moved to the position shown inFig. 2, with the inclined edge 25 adapted to ride against the conicalsurface of the head 42. An operation of the latch bolt to withdraw itmade from the inner side of the door causes the head at 12, when it ismoved inwardly, to ride against the inclined edge 25 of arm 24,operating as a cam to turn the lever 22 to its neutral position (Fig. 1)with a consequent movement of the locking finger 30 out of the recess 39of the roll-back flange in which it has been received.

If at a time when the door is open, the bar 32 was manually moved andthus locked the latch bolt against operation from the outer side of thedoor, upon closing the door with a consequent inward longitudinalmovement of the head All, rod 4! and rear head 52, the same automaticreturn of the lever 22 to neutral position occurs, as shown in Fig. 3.

The free end of the bar 32 in the case of an emergency may be engagedagainst by any suitable implement which may be passed through an openingmade in the escutcheon at the outer side of the door and through anopening in the door in alinernent therewith, the same as disclosed in myearlier filed applications.

Accordingly, with the structure described the parts are quickly andeconomically made 1argely from sheet metal, the installation on the dooris of a simple and economical character. Such latch construction hassafeguards against damage under all conditions of its use and is ofvalue in use upon the inner doors of houses. The over all length of thelatch is the same as that in the disclosure of my previously filedapplications. In the operation the free ends of the bars 44 are stoppedupon striking against the ends '5 of the housing parts, with aprevention of full rotation of the spindle members 35 and 35. Thelocking lever 22 is of a sturdy character and is held against lateralcocking or twisting, is guided and held at both end portions thereof andis one which is particularly simple, strong and durable in use.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be consideredcomprehensive of all forms of structure coming Within their scope.

I claim:

1. A latch comprising, an elongated housing open at one end, a two partoperating spindle extending transversely through the inner portion ofthe housing, said spindle parts having independent rotative connectionat their meeting ends within the housing, a latch bolt including a cupshaped member disposed within and across said housing, stop meanscarried by the housing for holding the cup member against outwardmovement beyond the stop means, spring means acting on said cup shapedmember to normally move it against the stop means, retracting meansconnected to the cup-shaped member and extending to said two-partoperating spindle, combined with independent means carried by each ofthe parts of said operating spindle for moving said cup shaped memberinwardly on rotation of either part of the operating spindle in eitherdirection,

a latch bolt head normally projecting through the open end of thehousing, a rod secured to its inner end and extending through the bottomof the cup shaped member, a lighter spring means surrounding said rodbetween the bottom of the cup member and the inner end of the head, alocking lever pivotally mounted between its ends within the housinghaving an outwardly and inwardly extending arm, manual means for rockingsaid lever about its pivot, means connected with one of said spindleparts with which the inwardly extending arm of said locking lever isbrought into holding engagement when the lever is rocked in onedirection, and means carried by said rod at its inner end engageablewith the forwardly extending arm of said locking lever for returning thelocking lever to its initial position upon inward movement of saidprojecting bolt head.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1, said cup shaped member havingan opening in the bottom thereof through which the forwardly extendingarm of the locking lever may extend on spindle operated retraction ofthe latch bolt, the sides of said opening maintaining the locking leverin position against lateral movement.

3. A construction as defined in claim 1, the bottom of said cup shapedmember having an opening into which the outwardly extending arm of thelocking lever passes, means yieldingly holding the locking lever againstmovement in the direction of the length of the housing, and meansagainst which the inwardly extending arm of the locking member engagesfor releasably maintaining the locking lever in either of the positionsto which it is pivotally moved.

4. An elongated latch housing having an open end, a latch bolt having ahead normally projecting through the open end of the housing, said boltcomprising two connected parts each independently spring actuated in anoutward direction, said bolt head being connected with one of said partsand movable inwardly into the housing independent of movement of theother of said parts, and said bolt head being moved into the housing oninward movement of other of the latch bolt parts, separate means forindependently and simultaneously retracting both parts of the latchbolt, manually operable from opposite sides of the latch housing andoutside thereof, a pivotally mounted locking lever within said housinghaving oppositely extending arms adapted when in one position to permitretraction of the bolt by either of said independently operable means,and when turned to another position locking one of said independentlyoperable means against operation, and means carried by the part of thelatch bolt with which the bolt head is connected engageable with one ofthe arms of said locking lever to move said lever from its operativelocking position to unlocking position on inward movement of the bolthead, either when it is retracted upon movement of both parts of thelatching bolt, or is moved with the part of the latching bolt to whichit is connected independently of the other part of said latching bolt.

5. A construction as defined in claim 4, said locking lever beinglaterally guided at both sides, and at one end portion by adjacent sidesof the housing to maintain it in substantially a single plane in itsmovements.

6. A construction as defined in claim 4, said locking lever at one endportion lying between spaced apart portions of the housing and with itssides closely adjacent thereto to maintain the lever in substantially asingle plane in its movements, and means at the opposite end portion ofthe lever, holding it at both sides against side movements.

l. A latch comprising a casing, a latch bolt slidably mounted in thecasing and having a. tail end extending into the casing, a, spring tothrust said latch bolt outwardly, manual means for retracting the latchbolt, a locking lever pivotally mounted between its ends in said casing,the rear end of said lever being movable into locking engagement withsaid manual retracting means, a cam surface on the forward end of saidlever movable into the path of said tail end of the latch bolt, andmanual means for moving the rear end REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,899,380 Arste Feb. 28, 19332,351,077 Segal June 13, 1944

